The Last few years have been a real boon for retro watch fans. Pretty much every manufacturer you can think of has a rerelease or reimagining of a classic back catalogue watch. However, going back to 2014 it seems like the grandaddy of this movement was the famously fecund Seiko Watch Corporation with their stunning and very affordable range of Recraft Watches. There are a few really handsome watches in the range, all harkening back to Seiko’s glory days of the 70s and 80s. The Recraft range consists mostly of mechanical watches and as far as I can tell, a solar quartz chronograph.
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It was a toss-up for me which of these watches to buy, In the end, I decided to choose between the two tonneau-shaped case designs the SNKM97 and the SNKP23. I decided finally that the SNKM97 was too big for me and opted for the lovely blue dialled SNKP23. As far as I can tell Seiko is not marketing these watches in the UK. They were available on Amazon but for over £200. That is definitely too much for this watch. They are nice but basic watches, running the positively ancient and not terribly high spec 7S26 movement, The rest of the spec sheet isn’t that impressive either. Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex crystal, zero lume on the hands or dial whatsoever and the rattliest and tinniest of folded link, stamped clasp
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bracelets. This watch is by no means a spec monster. In the end, I found the one I wanted on Jomashop, a grey market retailer based in the USA. I paid $140 for it plus £60 in taxes when it arrived. Those were more than I anticipated but hey-ho.
What it lacks in specifications it really does make up for in charm. It really is a unique looking watch with a very beautifully crafted dial, a Seiko speciality and a bold wrist presence.
It is a chunky number at a modest 13mm think its slab-sided nature means that it feels a lot bigger than that. It wears big. It is the biggest 39mm watch you will ever find. I admit to not owning a micrometre however these are Seiko’s official statistics for the SNKP23. If you asked me to guess, I would say that it’s 14mm tall and 43mm wide 47mm Lug to lug. The tonneau case does make for a very comfortable and compact lug to lug. I shall make no bones about it. The bracelet, like all cheap Seiko bracelets, is very poor. It should not only be removed but destroyed too. I have put mine onto a black leather strap with white contrast stitching, I think it looks great and wears very nicely on. the strap. I would say that it is far more comfortable and a better everyday proposition than the bracelet.
The movement, that 7S26 has fans but I am not one of them. They are allegedly reliable but the lack of hand winding puts it in the last place for modern mechanical movements. There are much cheaper and superior Chinese movements and of course, Seiko has far better low-end movements that feature both hacking and hand winding. Having to do the Seiko shuffle each time you put the watch on after a long time in the draw, occasionally is not enough to keep time for the first free hours of wear. More than once it has stopped within a few minutes of me putting it back on. One has to very deliberately move a lot for a minute or two to give it a reliable wind. What is this 1970? Watch bloggers complain about Miyota 8200 series movements but I find them far more appealing than this due to their hand-winding feature.
Due to its unusual looks, this is probably one of my least worn watches. I really like it and I doubt I will sell it but I doubt it will ever be at the top of my rotation. It is a fun piece and probably also a fashion piece. Nevertheless, it is a mechanical watch with an important movement for not much money. I recommend anyone who is curious to get one and see if it is up their street.